Markets of Provence

The Saturday market on Place Richelme is one of those places that causes you to pause, take a deep breath, and let out a long, slow sigh…. Voilà, it seems to say, This is Provence. Since we live about an hour away from Aix, I’m almost ashamed to admit that this past weekend was the […]

Bandol is one of those dreamy seaside towns that’s easy to fall in love with. Located in the Var department (83), the name Bandol is also associated with the wine region containing over 50 different domaines – many scattered on either side of autoroute 50 & climbing the sweeping hills surrounding the villages of Le […]

Besides munching on French comfort food (I’ve got a few stews in the making) nothing beats the winter blues like a trip to Aix-en-Provence. Our last day trip was quite a few weeks back – just in time to visit the Christmas market and take in all the sights, sounds, & sweets of the holiday season. Apart from being […]

I’ve found that one of the nicest things about blogging is the chance to connect with people from around the world. Well, there’s that and the opportunity to sample, taste, and purchase a sizable amount of foodstuffs all in the name of “investigative research”. So given my affinity for the 3 F’s : Friends, Food, […]

Known as the capital of Provence Verte (Green Provence), the sizable town of Brignoles makes an excellent starting point for day trips around the interior of the Var region. We were lucky enough to stumble-upon Brignoles’ large (biggest I’ve experienced) Provençal market one sunny Saturday in July. And talk about a lively place. If you don’t get drawn-in by the chatty salami-sellers, you […]

It goes without saying, that in a region full of beautiful towns, it’s hard to pick a favorite from all the seaside “stars” that glitter along the Cote d’ Azur. Well, I guess it “should” be hard, but instead I’ve fallen quite in amour with the sleepy seaside village of Sanary-sur-Mer. Now all I need […]

Le Castellet is a medieval village perched high above autoroute A50, and about 45 minutes north of Aix-en-Provence. We visit this beautiful town often, not only for it’s proximity to the vineyards of Bandol but also because it’s an undeniably “picture-perfect” Provençal village. Many a Frenchman (& woman) rave about this enchanting spot, and this usually sleepy […]

If you’re looking to get a flair for multi-cultural Provence, look no further than a morning spent wandering through the main market of Toulon. Among the sellers pushing their artichokes, olives, and tapenades in the twangy accent of the South, you’ll find a mix of new & long-standing immigrants doing their daily shopping. Make sure to […]

Welcome to la belle Provence. I’m a 40-ish American woman & I’ve been blogging about the South of France since moving here in 2010. I live outside of a Provençal village in the Var region with my husband and small daughter. I'm a big fan of cooking, French food, and all things rosé. Bienvenue!